Foxaz -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

I'm pretty much addicted to jewellery, I admit it. It's why I started making it, of course, but I still buy a lot of lovely pieces from other makers. Earrings are my favourite little indulgences, and these two pairs from Arizona artisan Foxaz are just my type. The pair above are ocean blue faceted glass beads with copper findings, and I love the combination of colours.

Foxaz says of the studio:

I'm a retired postmaster with time on my hands. Always been crafty, artistic, now I have the time to enjoy myself. My husband and I work together on the shop- he does all the turquoise and antler pieces. We enjoy making beautiful things for others to enjoy.

I love glass flower beads, and the deep red colour of these clusters combined with the warmth of the copper findings are very appealing to me.

Do check out foxaz's shops at ArtFire and Etsy for more delicious pieces!

Fozax's ArtFire Studio
Fozax's Etsy shop
Fozax's Blog

PaperStreet -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

PaperStreet is a well-known supplier of high quality collage sheets and supplies. It's a very-successful family-run cottage industry, and one that has helped supply many, many artists. Charlotte Self is one third of the family that runs PaperStreet, and she's also an extraordinarily talented artist. Browsing through her ArtFire store, I was particularly struck by this moving, delicate and detailed art card, Gypsy Soul. The artist says of it:

Gypsy Soul was created in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month as part of a series of pink themed ACEOs. This piece was inspired by the writings of Susan Griffin, an amazing writer who addresses the issues of feminism, the destruction of nature, and war, both internal and external. This Gypsy Soul's body is a map of her history.

(This art card is available in a limited edition print at PaperStreet's new ArtFire Studio.)

PaperStreet says of herself:

I am a mother, a poet, an artist, a clothing designer, and a chaser of shiny things. I "deconstruct" and "reconstruct" vintage clothing turning them into one of a kind art to wear pieces, paint acrylic on canvas, do collage both traditional and digital, and sell beautiful collage sheets.

The digital collage above (Siren) is a lovely, layered study in blues. It's available in PaperStreet's ArtFire Studio as a 4 x 6 print.

I encourage you to find out more about this talented artist and her family!

PaperStreet's ArtFire Studio
PaperStreet's Etsy shop
Sweet Acacia Art Etsy shop
PaperStreet's Website and Blog

yayabun -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

I love vintage fabrics. I went through a long period when I collected all kinds of bits and pieces from every source from charity shops to flea markets. I still get a little quiver of pleasure from looking at vintage prints, so when I went shopping recently for lavender sachets on ArtFire, the ones pictured above really appealed to me.

They're made by yayabun of Flushing, Michigan, out of vintage tablecloths (she has other fabrics listed), come in a set of three, measure a generous 5 inches square and are filled with French lavender. It doesn't get much better than that, as far as I'm concerned :)

She says of herself:

My line of home decor and baby items was developed as a result of being unable to find that perfect something for that perfect somebody. I'm an avid collector of vintage textiles and have been sewing since I was very young. Putting the two together was a natural fit.

Here's a doorstop made of vintage fabric (again, yayabun offers different patterns).
All doorstops are 5" tall and hold approx. 2.5 pounds of rice or peas. Yayabun ships them empty and the buyer fills them him or herself from the bottom. Great idea!

And, best of all for me, if you ask her, she'll ship to Canada :)

Yayabun also has an Etsy store. Do check out her work!

yayabun ArtFire Studio
yayabun Etsy shop

EclecticOddities -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

I love these glossy, rectangular OpArt magnets. I can picture them in all kinds of settings, from strictly modern and streamlined to warmer and retro. Each one is built on a wooden domino and embellished with Swarovski crystals by ArtFire seller EclecticOddities. This Connecticut-based former art and theatre teacher says of herself:

Retired art and theatre teacher at the High School level. A crafter, quilter, designer and seamstress for over 30 years. Love all things 4 footed and furry, as well as our feathered friends. Live with 4 cats and feed all the neighborhood strays. Have a variety of interests, thus the eclectic nature of my shop and handmade items.

This original collage, Paper Man, really appeals to me, too. I love the combination of warm and cool colours, smooth and rough textured edges and the whole theme of "I'm coming apart!" Beautiful and amusing!

If you'd like to check out EclecticOddities' shops, please follow the links below! (She's sold for a long time on Etsy under the name NoDuplicates).

EclecticOddities ArtFire Studio
NoDuplicates' Etsy Shop

Spreader of Love Award

I want to thank All Wired Up TOO for nominating me for the Spreader of Love Award "for spreading the ArtFire love" :) That's so nice! Thanks so much!

Here are my awards for love spreadin':

All Things Handmade a.k.a. The Etsy Miniblog. This is a great community project spearheaded by SchoolLocker and dottyral and others, and a team of volunteers.
Ask Sister Mary Martha. A great Etsy seller and author of one of the most humane, sensible and funny religious blogs I've ever encountered.
Autonomous Artisans. This group blog shares the love by featuring a wide range of artists and craftspeople.
Craft Test Dummies. A well-organized blog about "high impact crafting" :)
High Desert Diva. This diva's beautiful blog, spiced up with thought-provoking quotes, features photos and stories about her life as well as work from favourite artists and artisans.

Award rules:
1-Post a copy of the award on your blog post
2-Mention who gave you the award
3-Pass the award on to 6 others
4-Leave a message on their blog letting them know the honor has been bestowed upon them

Here's a great (and balanced) summation of one artist's view of the struggle between Etsy and ArtFire (with great Nintendo references). Cover That Mother is the blog of illustrator thepairabirds and I think her approach to choosing a venue is quite interesting to read. Her minimalist art is extremely cool, too :)

thepairabirds ArtFire Shop
thepairabirds Etsy Shop